No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency: Tea Time for the Traditionally Built by Alexander McCall Smith

The audio book is excellent.  The whole story is great.  I have been a fan since I have read the first book.  HBO had made a great show of the No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.  I wish they had continued the story.  There were great actors such as Jill Scott and more and the filming was also great of a beautiful country in Africa.  It was a smart and entertaining story.  A story line of community around Precious and also how clever she is solving cases.  Enjoy.

Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos

This is hilarious.  I can see why it won so many awards.  It's a coming of age story. Right up there with A Year Down Yonder.  Perfect for middle school libraries.  There are positive messages to racism of the time.  It's a good read and a good listen to.  Enjoy.

No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency: The Kalahari Typing School for Men by Alexander McCall Smith

This is a charming detective story set in Africa, Botswana.  I read the first one years ago.  Then HBO had a great series based on the stories starring Jill Scott who nailed it and a great cast all together.  I wish HBO had never ended the first season.  It was one of the best shows they had ever produced.

The audio book is also awesome.  You hear an authentic cadence to the story.  Enjoy.

Children of Eden by Joey Graceffa

It's a good series.  Think Matched meets Hunger Games and add Among the Hidden series and you've got another dystopian story.  It's good and I would get for my high school library.  Enjoy.

Top Ten by Katie Cotugno

I don't think I'll get it for my high school library.  Fine for public libraries.  There is sex and parties going on.  Bickering and relationship problems.  Not really that compelling.

Chrestomanci: The Lives of Christopher Chant by Diana Wynne Jones

I enjoy this series.  If you like Harry Potter then this is a good series to also enjoy.  It's magic, family dysfunction, a mentor, adventure and a baddie.  Fine for elementary, middle and high school.  Enjoy.

Chrestomanci: The Magicians of Caprona by Diana Wynne Jones

Every library should have the collection of Diana Wynne Jones on their shelves.  They are great stories.  I'm enjoying this series.  So far I've read two of the books.  They are filled with adventure, humor, danger and magic.  Enjoy.

Endurance: A Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery by Scot Kelly

I was able to hear Scott Kelly speak for Fresno's Town Hall this fall.  This is actually the third astronaut I've hear speak.  I remember the moon landings even though I was a wee little girl.  There's something about the exploration of space.  It is worth listening.  It's all the right stuff!  The audiobook also good.  Enjoy.

Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman

Art is very important, as well as the artist's story.  Read the background of this famous man.  Then go online and look at his paintings.  If you can see his work in a museum that would even be better.  Years ago at the Getty in LA  I got to see a special exhibit of Vincent Van Gogh's work.  Amazing. I love the iris study but now I am also appreciating the sunflower series and of course the Starry Night art.  Oh great now I have the song in my head.  Audio book also good.  I'm getting this for my high school library.

The Secret Keepers by Trenton Lee Stewart

Perfect for middle school.  It's a mystery and magic and adventure.  Baddies and goodies and who can you really trust.  It's a good story.

Little Brother: Homeland by Cory Doctorow

OMG  a must read and I'm getting for my high school library.  The audiobook also very good.  It's so real and scary in the contemporary world.  Government conspiracy and technology.  SCARY.  It's a thriller.  Enjoy.  and think.

Fallen Isles: Before She Ignites by Jodi Meadows

It's when government hide things from it's people then it's a dangerous world and animals and natural resources become lost.  It's a good story.  Part fantasy and the fact that there are dragons is a good thing.  Mostly it's about surviving a horrible prison and a guard from hell.  And a once trusted mentor is really a baddie.  It's smart and a good read.  Yep, I'm getting this for my high school library.  Enjoy it's a good read.

Invictus by Ryan Graudin

Oh the audiobook and the story are both good.  It's science-fiction at it's best.  Fan of Dr. Who and Raiders of the Lost Arc?  Then you'll enjoy this story.  Will get for my high school library.

Far From the Tree by Robin Benway

Fantastic book and great audiobook.  A must in high school libraries.  Enjoy.  Family, foster, adopted and each sibling has their own story as they mesh with their found biological sibling.  It's a good story.

Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan

The audio book is fantastic with excerpts of music that connect the story to real sounds.  It's a good read and a good listen too.  Fine for any school library.  A bit of a fantasy and some touches of history so that young readers have a stronger connection to events in history.

Song of the Current: by Sarah Tolcser

It's a good read and it's a good audio book.  Good plot with good twists.  The girl is the hero and must make difficult choices.  Adventure and danger, mystery and romance makes this a good story.  Will get for my high school library.  Enjoy. Set in an alternate universe.  Enjoy.

Unearthly: Radiant by Cynthia Hand

It's a novella that gives a back story about Angela.  If you are a fan of the series, then you'll want to catch up with this short story.

Unearthly Boundless by Cynthia Hand

It's a good read.  Lot's of romance and danger in the world of angels and teens.

Agatha Raisin: Agatha Raisin and the Case of the Curious Curate by M. C. Beaton

Agatha Raisin Dishing the Dirt by M. C. Beaton

The audiobooks are a great series.  Enjoy this British who-done-it.  It's a great murder mystery.

Agatha Raisin: Agatha Raisin and the Deadly Dance by M. C. Beaton

I love this series.  If you enjoy murder mystery, Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes then enjoy a contemporary series and laugh in this who-done-it series.  Audio book also very good.  Enjoy.

Renegades by Marissa Meyer

It's a good read and a good audio book.  Super heroes and super villians are pretty popular in movies and graphic novels.  This is a great book for those who enjoy this genre.  Enjoy. I'm getting for my high school library.

13 Minutes by Sarah Pinborough

13 Minutes is a psychological thriller.  It's a good read.  I think it's pretty intense.  The audiobook is also good.  Set in Britain, cell phones leave clues as to what happened.  It's a mystery and it's a good one.  Enjoy.

Piper by Jay Asher, Jessica Freeburg & Jeff Stokely

A classic retelling of the Pied Piper.  Rats have infested villages and when a magical rat catcher  isn't paid a dangerous price is paid.  I think I will get for my high school library.  Enjoy.

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

Oh my goodness, I'm getting this for my library.  Good guy's read.  Lots of technology and tricks.  Scary when government has too much power.  Enjoy. It is a must read.  Oh and a bit of sex.  But fine for high school librariess

The Book of Pirates by Howard Pyle

It's good for personal and public libraries.  The audiobook also good.  Enjoy.

Seven Black Diamonds by Melissa Marr

Enter the dangerous world of the fae and enter of world of war between humans and the fae.  A mother, a missing child and a mystery, years later Lilywhite becomes part of this world.  It's a good read and perfect for personal libraries and public libraries.

Children of Eden: Elites of Eden by Joey Graceffa

It's a dangerous world with science experiments gone out of control.  Politics and power, lies and teens make this future world a place where memories can be taken away and false ones implanted.  I haven't read the first book yet.  This book can be read with out the first one.  It's good and I would get for my high school library.  Enjoy.

Iskari: The Last Namsara by Kristen Ciccarelli

In a world of politics and lies, dragons know the truth.  Stories bring dragons and a young woman, Asha, princess to the throne is trained to kill dragons.  She know must face what she thought were truths and tackle the lies.  It's a good story and I would buy for the high school library.

Marina by Carlos Ruiz Zafon translated by Lucia Graves

Oh my goodness, if you are a fan of Edgar Alan Poe then read this modern horror story.  It's fantastic.  Now I want to go to Barcelona.  Romance and adventure, murder and monsters, mystery and secrecy creates a story that is amazing.

That Inevitable Victorian Thing by E. K. Johnston

Think Downton Abbey set in the future with the focus on royalty.  It's good but I wouldn't put it in a high school library.  I think it's perfect for public library and personal libraries.  I think it's perfect for niche readers.  Enjoy.

Airhead by Meg Cabot

I'm a fan of Meg Cabot.  She writes for both adults and for teens.  This book is entertaining and not to  be taken seriously.  Would I buy for the high school library?  No but I'm glad the public library carries it.  Enjoy.

Caroline: Little House, Revisited by Sarah Miller

This is beautifully written and a testament to the pioneer women who traveled across the country.  A new world, new problems and meeting new people written in a thoughtful and exquisite style.  If you are  a fan of Laura Wilder, you will enjoy a mother's perspective.

The Diabolic The empress by s J Kincaid

This is one intense story.  You will be thrilled to read this sci-fi series.  Oh my goodness wait till you get to the end of this part of the story!  Enjoy.  I'm getting this for my high school library.

The Gold Seer Trilogy: Into the Bright Unknown by Rae Carson

This series is a must.  It's a great series set during the gold rush in California.  There's magic in a girl who can find gold.  And the villains are evil.  And the friends are good.  Perfect for any high school library.  Enjoy.  Audiobook also good.  Published in 2017

The Forgetting: The Knowing by Sharon Cameron

Are you a fan of Lois Lowry, The Giver series?  Then The Forgetting series is your next read.  Book 2 can be read independently of book 1 but it would help to have the other book as well.  It's different but good.  I'm thinking about getting for my high school library.

An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson

Romance and danger, blended together to make an entertaining fairy story.  It's not a safe world and there is really no one you can really trust.  It's a good story, and audio book also good.  Enjoy.  Fine for high school libraries.

Brotherband Chronicles: The Caldera by John Flanagan

I enjoy the Brotherband series.  It's a great book and a good read for those who like adventures.  The audio book is excellent.  Enjoy.

This Darkness Mine by Mindy McGinnis

Oh my goodness!   This story by the end gave me chills.  Think the Good Son meets The Bad Seed.  It's a good book.  I don't know if I'd put it in a high school library but it's fine for personal libraries and also public libraries.  The audio book also is successful in conveying the story for a chilling eerie effect.
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Victoria Square: Dead, Bath, and Beyond by Lorraine Bartlett

I love a good murder mystery and audiobook.  This one is entertaining.  Enjoy.

The Latehomecomer: Kao Kalia Yang

Fresno Public Library has chosen this story for the Big Read in January 2018.  I listened to the audiobook and it brought back memories of teaching at FUSD the Newcomer's school.  Many students from all over the world, would come and learn survival English and then move on to their home schools.

Refugees go through so much emotionally, physically and culturally.  This is an important read.

Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust

I like this retelling.  You feel for both girls.  The audiobook is also good.  There's power, magic and looking for fatherly love and motherly love.  It's a good read.  Enjoy.

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Ship of the Dead by Rick Riordan

Rick Riordan is an author who can bring various cultural mythology to life in a contemporary time.  It's entertaining and a fun read.  Enjoy.

100 Hours by Rachel Vincent

At first I didn't like the self-serving shallow teens but then as I got to know them I started to care.  These party teens who drink and have sex all of a sudden have to become aware of the people around them as they are pushed through the jungle.  Some will die and some will survive.  It's a good story.  Audiobook also good. Would I put in the library? No,  but perfect for public library and personal libraries.  Enjoy.

The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell

If you like How to Train Your Dragon, then you will like the author's new series.  It's a good story.  Funny and charming perfect for elementary and middle school.  Audio book also very good.  Enjoy.

The Magic Misfits by Neil Patrick Harris

I listened to the audiobook.  It's entertaining.  Fine for elementary level.  I wasn't really impressed.

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

Interesting book.  Good audio book.  Would I put it in the library for high school? no but I would encourage students to read it.  Perfect for public libraries.  It is a good read.  Enjoy.

All the Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater

The story is set in the 60's.  It's a great story but different.  The audio book is also great.  Enjoy.  Will get for the library.

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

Are you a fan of Paper Towns, Fault in the Stars and other John Green books?  This is a must for your library shelves.  Perfect for high school libraries.  The audio book is also good.  Enjoy.  You will fall for Aza and her obsessive compulsiveness behavior.

Rise of the Empress: Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao

The audio book is intense.  It's a dark story and Xifeng is hard to like.  She's a dark soul.  I'd compare her to Darth Vader of Star Wars.  Not that she has super powers.  She starts off in an orphan like beginning and then finds a parent she didn't know she had.  She has to make a choice because of fate if she will go down the dark side.  She's very conniving.  It's a good story but I'm not going to get for the library.